NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — It was nice to see the American Flag flying at fullstaff on Monday. I say this because it seems, as of late, the flag is at half-mast far more than at full-staff.

I suppose it is because of my own ignorance of the news - yes, sometimes a local newspaper man can be ignorant of some state, national and international news, at least in my case - that I so often have to ask or research the reason why the flag is flying in a position of mourning on any given day. Who died? I wonder. I haven’t heard of the death of a president or congressman. What did I miss?

And I have to admit that the flag is in a position of mourning so often I’ve just come to consider it the norm and not anything of special significance.

Perhaps it is, as I say, just my ignorance of state or national news; but has anyoneelse noticed that the flag has been at half-staff more than at full lately? And, if it is so common-place, I wonder how many really consider the meaning of the lowered symbol of our nation.

According to the United States Flag Code, "by order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States government and the governor of a state, territory or possession as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to presidential orders or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any state, territory or possession of the United States, the governor of that state, territoryor possession may proclaim that the national flag shall be flown at half-staff."

The code also includes other related details, including the specific length of time during which the flag should be displayed at half-staff in the event of the death of a "principal figure" - 30 days for the death of a sitting or former president; 10 days for the death of a sitting vice president, current or retired chief justice or current speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a secretary of an executive or military department, a former vice president, or the governor of a state, territory or possession; on the day of death and the following day for a member of Congress; and on Memorial Day until noon.

Now, I realize that state governors have the authority to order flags to be flown at half-staff at the death of men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces and at other times of death and disaster. With no intent to not properly honor those who have given all in service of our nation or those who suffer tragic deaths for onereason or another, I question whether lowering the flag at every soldier’s death, or at the death of every significant citizen, really honors them.

I remember well the days of the Vietnam War, in which some 58,000 American troops and support personnel lost their lives. Yet, I don’t ever remember the flag being lowered in their honor. I do remember it being lowered in mourning for the death of presidents, such as that of John. F. Kennedy.

U.S. troops died in far larger numbers during World War II, but the flag continued to fly at full staff, except for 30 days following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Had the flag been lowered in each state to honor every serviceman or woman killed in that war, it would never have been flown full-staff, and yet it proudly waved across the nation and around the world.

So my question is this: Are we really honoring our men and women in the Armed Forces, or even other significant American figures, when we lower the flag constantly? Would not those who have died in service to our country rather see the flag flying high because of their deathsto preserve our nation’s freedom? Do we not disgrace our nation and flag when we lower it at every American death or disaster (and even at the death of a Hollywood star who apparently died from a drug overdose)?

As often as I see the flag flying in a position of sorrow and mourning, I wonder if we haven’t become a nation of victims and wimps who need sympathy every time we get a black eye and suffer losses; and I fear that state governors, and even some city mayors, feel compelled to lower the flag for everything and everybody in fear that they may leave someone or something out and be accused of being politically incorrect.

And, yes, as a former law-enforcement officer, it troubles me a little to hear the cries for sympathy and public honor for every police officer or firefighter who dies in the line of duty. As I remember, I knew the dangers when I took the oath and put on the badge.

In my opinion - again meaning no dishonor to those who’ve given all in the service of our country - I can’t help but view flying the flag at half-staffalmost continually as a sign of weakness rather than as a symbol of American pride and strength. Never has freedom been free. Both men and women have always risked lives and property and shed their blood to preserve freedom for themselves and their children.

As for me, I’m tired of weakness and mourning. I’d rather see those “broad stripes and bright stars” of which we sing in our national anthem “gallantly streaming.”

Incidentally, I asked my father-in-law, a World War II Navy veteran who served on the USS Rodman in both theaters of the war (his ship suffered kamikaze attacks and heavy damage off the coast of Okinawa at the beginning of the 1945 invasion). Even with great loss of life, he said his ship never lowered its colors during his time of service except to dip the flag in salute to passing ships from other ally nations - something the ally ships did in return.

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be reached by email at rmoll@ nwaonline.com.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 10/10/2012